Simplicity

"I can tell you with certainty that simplicity is one of the truly precious things in this life."  Annie Traurig

My friend Becky sent me this photo recently while she was poking around vintage resale shops.  She knows me well.

Something About Blue!

I've mentioned before that I have a Joyful Puttering Facebook page.  I don't post all that often...but when I do I often make a little digital collage of either a work in progress or a finished piece.

I posted this yesterday and my friend Amy commented "There's just something about blue".....and I couldn't agree more.

It prompted me to celebrate some of the blue in my home....like these rice china dishes. Several of the bowls were gifts from Connie....she also loves blue. 

Hydrangea Blues

It was a rainy stay at home day today. I had to tend to a few chores...but I also played with the hydrangea blues. I'm pretty excited about this little fabric collage...here's a sneak peak at my rainy day progress. 

Folt Bolt's April colors

I decided I wanted a patchwork effect in lighter blues for the background. As I was placing the pieces I was constantly putting down a view finder so I knew how it will land on the canvas. Eventually I will wrap and fuse the patchwork around the canvas like I have on the others.

Once I had the background fabrics fused together I added a square of batting and did some random top stitching in variegated blue thread. Stitching changes everything!



I will likely have to stitch more petal clusters but will eventually fuse them down. I can't wait to add the center beads...they're going to make a huge difference. I may even leave a few petals loose...giving it a more depth and texture. Once I fuse on the little "Joy" I will stitch around it and the vase.

This one has been fun and I like the way it's coming together.  I can't wait to try this stitch and cut technique on another project.

Arranging Colors

"One can speak poetry just by arranging colors well." Vincent Van Gogh  Nice job mother nature...and thank you for a couple of beautiful spring days!

Field Trip

I spent the morning with Connie who, by the way, is holding her own....some good days...others not so good. I sit with her a few hours every day helping her with a meal or whatever else she needs.

One of my favorite Connie paintings

Sometimes we visit a little...often I just sit quietly while she sleeps. Last night we listened to Willie Nelson...he's one of her favorites. Spending time with her continues to be one of the most important things I do.



But this afternoon I went on a little field trip with my friend Martha equipped with my paint fans to help her pick a paint color for the kitchen in her house on the south shore. I love talking about paint colors and it's always fun seeing Boston from the other side of the bay.

One of the best parts about going to Martha's house is getting to see the carvings done by her husband Rob. He carved the little "Joy" that moves around my house but has a permanent spot on the top of my blog.  I wrote about Rob and Martha here. 

"Be kind whenever possible.  It's always possible." Dalai Lama  

"Where there is discord, let us bring harmony."

And it's always fun to see a work in progress! Thanks Martha for a fun field trip...and thanks Rob for the eye candy!  And...by the way...we did pick a paint color.

Lightbulb...

...moment in the middle of the night.

The first thing that came to my mind for my blue scheme collage was hydrangea. I may not always stick with the flower/plant theme for these monthly collages...but I guess it's where my head is right now. Maybe it's because I'm getting sick of winter....we've had a slushy snowy couple of days.

Just one blossom....a whole bouquet?  How could I make it work? My first thought was to cut out and fuse individual petals....but that could get tedious. I knew stitching would be an important element...so I kept mulling it over.

I loved this image I found on Pinterest....it originated here.

Then last night I woke up in the middle of the night with an idea and I had to get up and sketch it out so I could go back to sleep.

"Stitch...then cut out...then overlay....even 1" were my middle of the night night notes. This would allow me to cut out chunks or even one set of petals to layer and overlay to create depth. With a few beads and/or french knots in the centers I think it might work and actually look like hydrangea! Yay!

One of the first things I did this morning was give it a try. I chose a piece of vibrant blue hand dyed fabric and backed it with Wonder Under. Then I free motion quilted a set of petals and cut it out.  I can see in this photo that I need to dust my sewing machine. 

I think it worked out pretty well for my first crack at it. Now I just need to make several more sets of different sizes and come up with an interesting background in other shades of blue.

Maybe tonight I'll sleep better.

April Scheme

I've made some progress on my collage using Folt Bolt's January scheme...and I'll catch it up on the blog soon....but the April colors are out.

Even though I'm anxious to do something multicolor....shades of blue is one of my favorite schemes.  I'll catch you up on my progress with the aqua and red but I may also start playing with the blues!

I made this simple piece for my show last May using an altered photograph and fabric. You can read about it here.

Facebook

On the last day of the month Kriszta from Folt Bolt features several of the color scheme pieces on her Facebook page...and this month she chose mine as one of them. That was a nice surprise to wake up to.  Tomorrow brings a new color scheme for April.

Unexpected Art...

...as seen on a morning walk.

Perfect Combo

Last Saturday Paul and I took a little destination drive to Littleton and had lunch at the Gallery 529 Cafe. It was the perfect combo of interesting art, good food....and even better company. I even got to color a little bit while we waited for our food.                                                                                          

The black bean soup had a little artsy flair.

My favorite piece was this funky mobile....it might have come home with me but it wasn't for sale. It was simply wire and tissue and it reminded me of fabric flowers I used to make when I was young. I absolutely loved it and am going to give it a try at some point.

I found this image online....just like I remember.

Ahhh!

That's all...just ahhh!

Life

"There is no joy without sorrow....it is in fact the pain and the suffering that allows us to experience and appreciate the joy." The Book of Joy

I'm so lucky to have so many good friends....a few have reached out since my last post. So just in case you're wondering....I'm just fine. There has been a lot going on....so much of it good and wonderful. But, the most important priority in my life right now is my dear friend Connie.

I have talked quite a bit about Connie on this blog. As a matter of fact if you put her name in the little search box in the upper left hand corner more than 40 posts come up where her name is mentioned. That even surprised me. I've been Connie's friend, decorator, gardener, seamstress, caregiver, driver, and errand girl.  We've spent hours and hours crafting, problem solving, and puttering....she is an inspiration and a role model. My fist post about her was called "Let Me Introduce You to Connie" in the first weeks of this blog and she has been a regular presence ever since. It was always with her permission and she has loved reading her stories here so I know she won't mind if I continue.


Just recently Connie's health has declined and she is transitioning to Hospice care. I will be part of the team that will be helping with this end of life process whenever and however I can...it will be both difficult and powerful.

But....spring is coming, creative projects continue, and decisions are being made about houses and homes. Yes...life is full...but life is also very good. I'm so grateful for my very full life.

"The more we turn toward the suffering, our own and others, the more we can turn toward the joy." The Book of Joy

A Moment in Time

Every once in a while life events come together at the very same time that deserve extra time and attention. Joyful things and difficult things all at once. Things that take me back to reflect on what has been and decisions and opportunities that propel me forward to what might be. That's what's happening now. It's one of those moments in time.

I'm going to pause this blog and regroup for a few days. I'm not going anywhere....I'm just going to catch my breath and tend to some of these things and give them the attention and energy they deserve. And...I'm going to start a new puzzle....this crazy one I got from my sister LaVonn. 

The last one is done and tucked away. Is there anything else that you work on for months....and when it's finally finished you just take it apart?  I'll be back soon. 

Hello Spring

This image came across my Pinterest feed and it made me smile. Just what I needed today.

It's been cold and blustery lately....but the sun was shining this afternoon and there seemed to be a little hope for the coming spring.

The image originated here.

Paint Panel Heaven

I've said it before and I'll say it again....I love wooden paint panels. They are inexpensive and have a multitude of uses. In this case I used them to turn colorful wrapping paper into wall art. Last time I was in Portland I stopped at my favorite art store to pick up a few more panels. I had plenty to choose from....it was paint panel heaven.                                                                                          

Artist and Craftsmen Supply has 30 stores all over the country...but the store in Maine was the first. It's a employee owned company and full of really cool stuff.

You can see all my projects using paint panels by clicking here.

Savoring

....the finish line.

My friend Becky recently finished two puzzles in a relatively short amount of time. I know lots of people who can't leave them alone once they start. Becky joked about having to set a timer to remind her to stop. Not me. I love my puzzles...but I'm OK with a few minutes here...fifteen or twenty minutes there. Sometimes they sit untouched for days...even weeks. I've been plugging away at this one since Christmas.

But...I'm getting close and I'm savoring the finish line.  I very purposefully only do a few pieces at a time here at the end....they go in so fast at this point and I like to stretch it out.  I don't really know why...it's just what I do...it works for me.

Children Welcome

I may have mentioned before that I really enjoy the view from my puzzle table. Looking ahead there's a shelf filled with some of my favorite things...

...and to the left I have a window where I can watch the weather or the world go by.  And I even have a view of the TV is that's what I want. It's a good spot.

Sitting in front of the bookshelf is this sweet little antique bow back chair. Years ago Paul and I acquired two of them from Brookmeade Congregational Church in Nashville, Tennessee.  We lived in Nashville for six years while we went to graduate school and Brookmeade is where Paul worked as a youth minister and where he was later ordained. One chair sits here in our home and one sits in Paul's office at church. In both places we want our message to be clear...."children are welcome here."  

I will admit that I love collecting children's books and toys. But mostly I love sharing them the kids who come to visit. I have a whole shelf of books...several baskets of toys and trinkets and all kinds of puzzles and games on hand ready for my little visitors.

Yes....children are welcome here.

Series

I've enjoyed the challenge of using the Folt Bolt's color scheme as an inspiration for a monthly project. It also pushes me think outside of the box...putting together colors I might not have on my own. So I think I'm going to try and do a year long series of mixed media collages using each month's scheme. Let's see if I can pull this off...it's worth a try.

I'm even going to back track and tackle the January scheme which was reds and aqua blues.





One evening back in January while watching TV I made these wool, felt, and beaded circles with the intention of making something to submit to Folt Bolt....but this is as far as I got. It's a combination I've never used before and it's really grown on me.

Today I started gathering  inspiration. As of right now one of my felt circles is missing...hopefully I'll be able to uncover it over the next couple of days. 

Mulling it over.....

Theme

I wonder what the April color scheme will be.
I'm sensing a theme.

Bein' Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

I used to love watching Sesame Street with my kids....there was enough clever humor for me and enough of everything for them.  

I'm especially fond of Kermit....and love his little song "It's Not Easy Be'in Green."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4ZxxHbJGbY

My little Kermit moves around...but for now he's on my kitchen window sill.

It's not that easy being green;

having to spend each day the color of the leaves.

When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow, or gold...

or something much more colorful like that.

It's not easy being green.

It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.

And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're 

not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water...

or stars in the sky.

But green's the color of Spring.

And green can be cool and friendly-like.

And green can be big like an ocean, 

or important like a mountain,

or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be

It could make you wonder why, but why wonder?

Why wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!

And I think it's what I want to be.